Interested in a Mazdaspeed 3 FTW or no?

[ls6velless454]

I decided that an Evo/STI was a little bit to much for me. So I'm going for something a little bit more practical/economical. I have actually found some 07's 08's with low miles pretty cheap. So besides car and driver liking these cars does anyone know any info on them esp. troublespots know faults or anything like that? Thanks in advance

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[syP]

inb4ms3nutswinngerseventhoughms6isbetter

My brother bought one last year and never drives it since he lives in the city.


PM him (Diavolo), he might be ******d to sell it.

 

[Mook]

since you've already owned a fwd FI car....you'll already expecting the massive tq steer (even tho mazda claims its minimal). i havent heard too many bad things. some folks had a problem w/ one of the motor mounts breaking and the engine basically falling but i dont think that was a common problem.

i owned an 08 3 wagon for 6 months and have nothing but great things to say about it.

 

[ls6velless454]

Ok thanks guys........there is acually one in Lisle, IL let me find the link.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-Mazda3_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalgoQ3dLVIQ26ituQ3dUCIQ26otnQ3d4Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d63Q26clkidQ3d7759734475850114184QQ_trksidZp5197Q2em7QQcategoryZ84158QQitemZ170615860865

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Since it's the same platform as the focus; yes the passenger motor mounts suck. They sell poly ones however and that fixes it. Other then not being nearly as fast as I was expecting they seem like nice cars. I like the looks of the not smiley faced ones(think that started 09?)

 

[Mook]

http://www.mazda3forums.com/

 

[Intel]

How are these cars in the winter? I heard with winter and fwd and turbo it was sometimes a pain but I am guessing these were people who can't actually modulate the throttle.

 

[ls6velless454]

Thanks guys

 

[Mook]

How are these cars in the winter? I heard with winter and fwd and turbo it was sometimes a pain but I am guessing these were people who can't actually modulate the throttle.

i drove my srt4 (not the same car obviously but fwd / turbo) and i had no issues w/ it.

 

[ls6velless454]

I can't imagine it being any worse than my honda/grand prix. I'm gonna go test drive one today and see if I like it.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Its not like turbos kick in right off idle

IMO manual makes it that much easier to modulate and feel wheel slip.

 

[Mook]

 

[Intel]

That is what I figured, too many awd nut swingers lately. Believe me having stick on my maxima with blizzaks saved my bacon getting my car out of the alleys in chicago when they don't plow them.

I know the MS3's always look and sound nice whenever I see them. Will have to add to the list of possible replacement hatches.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I do not :nuts: from awd. Cars turn and stop exactly the same.


Well except I do a lot of turning with my right foot in snow. Shit pushes like crazy. Plus if you have tires spinning; they're all spinning. Fwd is way more predictable in actual snow IMO.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

The only real downside is the aftermarket isn't super huge like some cars. I'd say suspension/chassis is bigger then the GP world but engine wise it's smaller. Unless you wanna slap a 35r on it

 

[Intel]

I do not :nuts: from awd. Cars turn and stop exactly the same.


Well except I do a lot of turning with my right foot in snow. Shit pushes like crazy. Plus if you have tires spinning; they're all spinning. Fwd is way more predictable in actual snow IMO.

Driving my friends 2009 WRX in the snow it felt like rwd up to a certain point of slipping and then it switched to a fwd feeling of understeer at some point. Was only a short experience but it threw me for a loop as I have driven fwd cars on bald tires (ebrake to get it to turn in) and then my 85 oldsmobile (rwd, loud pedal to get it to turn) on bald tires in the snow.

Anyways let us know how you like the MS3 will definately want to see how I fit in one as a new daily driver is needed with a hatch for transporting wheels/engines/transmissions as doing that in a trunk just sucks.

 

[ls6velless454]

I will let you know after I go for a test drive, and see how I like it

 

[Dasfinc]

The one in Lisle has one owner, from Tx, and has an accident reported, Bit curious about its history, and that seems abnormally cheap.

 

[machausta]

ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE REPORTED: RIGHT FRONT FENDER

Doesn't sound too serious though.

 

[GOON]

i had a 08 before the cobra, replace rear motor mount if you plan on modding, turbo seals can go bad if you put a downpipe on it

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I've driven countless regular Mazda 3 hatches from the S to the grand touring I've only driven a new MS3 but the interiors aren't terribly different.

I think they're pretty comfy and nice inside and they seem to handle very well in stock form.

My wife wanted a grand touring hatch for a while. I like them a lot.

 

[hellraiser319]

Don't let the window switches get wet, they tend to catch fire....

 

[MikeyLikesIt]

I had an MS6 and this is my only advise. If you just want a DD, they are a great car and I recommend one. If you plan on modifying it, they tend to blow. The first cold snap in fall would bring 6 - 10 people blowing up across the nation. Here is a thread they started and I stopped trying to keep up with it all. It was the main reason I sold my MS6.

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/for...disi-turbo-blown-engine-resource-thread-6113/

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

MS3/6 = Subaru? Interesting

 

[ls6velless454]

I plan on keeping it stock maybe add a turboback and replace the BOV other than that nothing crazy gotta keep my DD as reliable as possible